Shutter for photographic apparatus



(No Model.)

W. E. SCHNEIDER. SHUTTER FOR 'PHOTOGR-APHIO APPARATUS.

No. 464,998. Patented Dec. 15, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM E. SOIINEIDER, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO MORRIS EARLE, TRUSTEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHUTTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,998, dated. December 15,1891. Application filed January 21,1891. Serial No. 378,595. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM E. SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shutters for Photographic Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Thisjnvention relates to shutters for photographic cameras, and more particularly to the class of shutters shown in my patents, Nos. 433,745 and 433,746, dated August 5, 1800; and the objects of the invention are to provide a safety device for closing the light-opening I5 automatically as the shutters are being set for operation and to set the 'escapement-op crating rod for use in time and instantaneous exposures.

The invention will be described first and then particularly pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is an elevation with the parts in position of disuse, and Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts set for use.

Parts that correspond in construction and operation to similar parts in my patent No. 433,746 are here reproduced'and correspond- 0 ingly lettered, as follows: Bis the front of the camera-frame; O, the light-opening; a and a, the leaves of the shutter; b, the slide, provided with a pin 1), which engages slots ain the leaves to. cause the leaves to cross one 5 another as the slide is caused to rise and descend.

b and b are lugs on the slide.

b is a hook on the slide, engaged by a spring D, one end of which is made with or as a coil 0 0 which is engaged by a hooked rod (Z to vary the effective strength of the spring, and consequently its power relatively to the slide and its appurtenant devices.

6 and g are the escapement-dogs to co-operate With the lugs b and Z) in setting and releasing the shutters for instantaneous and time photography.

f is the rod for disengaging the dogs from the lugs to cause the leaves to act in making an exposure, and h is the spring for normally throwing the dog 0 into the path of movement of the lugs and b".

In the present invention the end f of the rod fis screw-tapped into the lug g 011 the dog 9 and then reduced, and this reduced portion f is supplied with a check-nut] to limit the adjustment of the rod f for set-ting the escapementfor time or instantaneous photography.

The slide 1) is provided with a laterally-pro- 6o jecting arm 2, which is pierced vertically.

3 is a plate or disk of metal pivoted at 4 and adapted to be swung across and over the opening 0. This disk has connected to it a spring 5, which normally tends to keep the said disk in the position shown in Fig. 1that is to say, away from the opening Oit being arrested in that position by a suitable stop, as a pin 6. Another, and I prefer a spiral, spring '7 is connected to the disk between its pivot and its free end, and to this spring is attached a cord 8, which is passed through the opening in the arm 2. This cord is knotted or provided with an obstruction 9 above the arm, and may be provided also with an obstruction 10 below the arm, which latter prevents the upward escape of the cord when suddenly released. The cord is designed to extend outside the camera.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the parts are not in use, and also after the leaves have been set for operation, or as soon as the cord 8 is free, the spring 5 returns the disk to the position shown in Fig. 1. If it be desired to set the leaves for operation, the cord is pulled in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1,with but slight if any extension of the spiral spring and the disk is brought down so as to cover the opening 0. By further pull upon the cord in the same direction the spring extends and the end of the spring 7 or the obstruction 9 on the cord comes into engagement with the arm 2 and moves the arm and the slide 1) downwardly, thereby causing the shutter-leaves to cross one another and to effect an engagement 5 0f the dog 6 with one or the other of the lugs 19 or b When the cord is released, the spring 5 carries the disk back into normal position, Fig. 1; but it will be observed that the opening 0 was closed by the disk 3 while the leaves were being set, and hence no light could pass through such opening, and consequently the plates have been protected from accidental exposure. It will be observed, also, that the leaves cannot be set without first covering the opening by the plate ordisk 3; and hence I call this plate or disk a safety device.

It is obvious that my safety device is appli- IO cable to other shutters than the one herein set forth, and I mean to include in my claims herein all forms of shutters to which this safety device is or may be applicable.

It is obvious that the spring 7 admits of the IS closing of the disk over the opening, and thereafter a further downward pull of the cord to operate the slide to set the leaves while holding the disk in the closed position and against the retractive action of the spring 5. Any other form of connector having this capability of action may be used in place of the spring 7 and cord. \Vhat I claim is 1. A shutter having leaves and an escapement for operating them, combined with a plate or disk pivoted in connection with the exposure-opening and independently of the shutter-leaves, a device for operating the said plate or disk independently of the shutterleaves, and means for effecting a co-operating connection between the said plate or disk operating device and the escapement for effecting conjoint operation of the said escapement and the plate or disk, substantially as and for 3 5 the purpose described.

2. A shutter having leaves and an escapement for operating them, combined with a plate or disk pivoted independently of the shutter and its escapement, and a connector extending from said plate or disk into opera- 4o tive conjunction with the escapoment and adapted to actuate the pivoted plate or disk to cover the exposure-opening while the shutter is being set, substantially as described.

3. A shutter having leaves and an escapement for operating them having a slide, and a laterally-proj ecting arm on said slide, a pivoted plate or disk, and a connector extending from said plate or disk to said arm and operable to set the escapement and at the same time cover the exposure-opening, substantially as described.

4. The leaves and an escapement therefor, including a slide and an arm projecting laterally therefrom, combined with a pivoted disk to cover the opening over which the leaves work for exposing purposes, a spring normally retracting-said disk, and a partly-elastic medium connecting the disk and said arm and adapted first to close the disk over the opening and thereafter to actuate the slide to set the leaves while the disk covers the opening and then to release the disk, so as to uncover the opening, substantially as described.

5. In a shutter, the leaves and their escape- 6 5 ment, ii'icluding the dogs 6 and g, combined with the rod j, screw-tapped to one of the dogs and provided with a check-nut, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of January, A. D. 1891.

\VILLIAM E. SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses I PHILIP F. LARNER, WM. II. FINCKEL. 

